Residents in Wellington are being encouraged to stop and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who have defended our nation this Anzac Day.
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Anzac Day 2018 marks the 103rd anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove and is an important day for communities to gather and commemorate Australia’s service men and women.
The Wellington Sub-Branch Returned & Services League of Australia has a full program in place for Wellington which will feature special guest, Warrant Officer Cecil John Boshammer OAM.
Mr Boshammer was born in Chinchilla, Queensland in 1955 and went on to enlist in the RAAF on January 6, 1972 as an engineering apprentice.
He graduated from the RAAF School of Technical Training as an Airframe Fitter and spent over eight months working on F4 Phantoms and the introduction of the F111C.
Mr Boshammer was posted to RAAF Richmond in May 1974 and remained there until his retirement in March 2013.
Throughout his career Mr Boshammer clocked up 15,800 flying hours and 2450 simulator hours, only retiring on reaching the compulsory retiring age of 60.
The guest speaker is sure to keep the crowd enthralled as he speaks of his invaluable career that has taken him all over the world. He has the satisfaction of being the youngest post war Flight Engineer, most flying hours on a single aircraft type for any aircrew in RAAF history, the highest altitude in a C130, one of the few to serve more than 40 years in the ADF and more.
“But most of all it gave me an opportunity to serve this country, albeit in a small way, and hopefully helped keep it the best country in the world because in my experience it most undoubtedly is!” he said. “Not a day goes by that I don't wish I was still 'there'.”
A commemorative service in memory of fallen comrades will be held at the Cenotaph in Cameron Park, Wellington on Wednesday, April 25.
The timetable kicks off with a 5.45am gathering of ex-servicemen and women who will assemble at the Soldiers Memorial Club before marching to Cameron Park at 5.55am.
Stand To by all personnel at the Cenotaph is set for 6am, with all present to adjourn to SMC to honour Anzac Toast at 6.10am.
At 10.30am a march will be marshaled in Gisborne Street, commencing at 10.45am. Two minutes silence will occur at 10.55am ahead of the opening ceremony at 11am. The Last Post will sound and the laying of wreaths will occur. The service will conclude at 12pm, before the lowering of the flag attended by ex-servicemen and women at the Cenotaph from 3.15pm.
